Method of making middle rings for pipe-couplings.



. s umuu Ir G I I I v I W. 1.. CLARK & P. RYMAN. MBTHODOF MAKING MIDDLE RINGS FOR PIPE COUPLINGS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1914 I 1,132,828, Patented Mar.23,1915.

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METHOD OF MAKING MIDDLE RINGS FOR PIPE COUPLINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1914.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

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II M m WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS CQ, PHOTO'LITHOH WASHINGTON. D. C-

. T all whom it may concern:

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7 WILLIAM JICLARK AND FRANK BYMAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO HAMMON COUPLER COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A'CORPQRA- .rIoN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD MAKING MIDDLE RINGS; FOR PIPE-COUPLINGS.

ApplicationfiledMay l,1914; Seria1No.'836,157.- p

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. CLARK and FRANK RYMAN, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Methods of Making Middle Rings for Pipe-Couplers, of which the following'is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a method of forming coupler rings used for joiningthe ends of pipe sections. These rings, known as middle rings are usually provided with centering means for elfecting symmetrical disposition of the ring with respect to the pipe ends, said centering means generally comprising an interior flange or lug, sometimes being so formed or mounted on the ring as to be fracturable to permit of the ring being driven to either side along the pipe, for breaking or opening of the joint.

By our invention we provide a method I whereby rings having one or more internal centering stops or lugs may be advantageously formed, and it is directed more particularly to the making of a middle ring for couplers, of the character disclosed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 836,156, 2'. e., the formation from skelp or strip wrought metal stock of a ring having one or more internal integral centering stops.

We will now describe our invention, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may understand and practice the same, it being premised, however, that many changes .within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the method hereinafter described and that any suitable form of apparatus may be employed in carrying out such method without departing from which a coupling ring may be formed in accordance with our method; Fig. 2 is a simi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

lar View showing the strip of stockcut int; proper lengths for bending into rings; Fig.

'3 is a fragmentary top plan view indicating centering stops as being recessed orundercut to render themfrangible; Fig. 6 is an end view of the strip bent into ring form, showing the meeting edges united; Figs? and 8' v indicate manner of shaping the ring to form annular end enlargements constituting pack ing chambers; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal'seotional view through a ring made in accord ance with the hereindescribedmethod; and Fig. 10 is an. enlarged fragmentary sectional,

View showing manner of 'recessing or undercutting'a centering stop or lug.

The ring shown in Fig. 6 and indicated by the numeral 2 is formed from a strip of stock commonly known as skelp, as shown 'in Fig. 1 and indicated by the numeral 2 which is cut into desired lengths and bent into-circular shape. This ring has formed on its inner face one or more lugs 3 which act as centering stops for the pipe ends, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig.9;

These lugs may be provided with one or more recesses or undercuts 4 of such character that the lug is rendered thereby easily fracturable or capable of being readily sheared or brokenoii' so as to present no objectionable'resistance to driving of the ring to one side of the'joint for any desired-purpose, In forming these lugs, the stripvof stock 2 is rolled or otherwise shaped so as. to provide a projecting intermediate longitudinally disposed rib or bead 5 which is cut away to form the lug portions either before or after shearing of the strip into proper lengths for the rings. 7 We'have indicated this strip, as shown in Fig. 2, as firstbeing sheared or cut. intolengths 2 pref erably angularly or obliquely so as to form overlapping ends for welding of the ring in a well known manner. After the strip of stock is cut into lengths the length or section is placed in a shearing device 6 for shearing of the rib 5 at intervals therealong for the purpose of forming the lugs spoken of above. Any desired number of lugs may be formed on the ring. However, we have indicated the ring as having three lugs so spaced along the strip that, when it is bent into circular shape, they lie symmetrically disposed around the interior thereof. Any suitable form of shearing mechanism may be employed as the same, per se, does not form part of the present invention. The device shown comprises a plurality of reciprocating blades or dies 7 which are adapted to shearaway the rib 5 along the face of the strip section 2* withthe exception of the portions disposed in front of die members 8 the side faces 9 of which 00- operate with faces 10 on the reciprocating dies 7 to cut the rib 5 at right angles. An end guide or stop 11 is provided for insuring proper positioning of the successive plates or sections 2 as they are placed beneath and between the cooperating dies, and the dies 8 are removably and adjustably mounted in a suitable supporting member 12, as by means of set screws 18.

.Where it is desired to score or undercut the lugs 3 to render them frangible, as above described, said lugs may be so recessed either before or after or during shearing of the rib 5. The die members 7 and 8 may be formed with suitable cutting faces or edges 1 L so disposed as to act upon and undercut the blank lug portions in the manner shown in Fig. 10 during or after the intermediate portions of the rib 5 have been cut away. This action is clearly brought out in Fig. 8 wherein the plate or ring section 2 is shown as having the rib cut therefrom at inter mediate points during or upon completion of which shearing operation the die elements 7 and 8, by means of the projecting portions 14, undercut the lugs 3, as shown in Fig. 4. When the strip of stock comes from the shearing device it has the appearance substantially of that shown in Fig. 5, after which it is bent up and welded, as indicated in Fig. 6.

In the particular type of ring shown in Fig. 9 end packing chambers are formed by annular chambers or recesses 15, for sealing of the ring by means of a gasket or packing in the usual manner. In Figs. 7 and 8 I show means for and manner of shaping the ring to form such annular recesses. Said means comprises a plurality of rolling instrumentalities 16 and 17 between which the wall of the ring is rolled or worked to give it the desired shape of the contour of the operative faces of the rolls. In Fig. 7 the rolls are shown as being separated and the coupling ring placed in position around the roll 17 and against a guide or stop collar 18, and in Fig. 8 the rolls are shown as being brought together; the ring being shaped thereby as clearly indicated. The roll 17 around which the coupling ring is disposed may be provided with a suitable central peripheral groove or recess 19 to provide proper clearance for the projecting lugs 3 when the surface 20 of the roll 17 contacts with the inner face of the ring, as shown in Fig. 8. However it will be apparent that the ringmaybeshaped in any other desired manner such as by individual end rolling means or before it is bent into circular shape; the strip. of stock being given the de sired shape.

The advantages of our invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art since we are able to provide a simple, quick method of making middle rings of the character described.

The middle ringshown and described is not claimed herein as the same forms subject matter of our copending application Serial No. 836,156.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a ring body having a projecting rib like portion and reforming the rib. portion in such manner as to provide one or more internal centering stops.

2. A. method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in roviding a ring body having a projecting rib like portion and partially cutting away said rib portion to form one or more internal centering stops.

3. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a strip of stock having a projecting rib like portion, reshaping said rib portion to form one ormore centering stops and bending said strip into circular shape and uniting its meeting edges.

i. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a strip of stock and rolling a projection on one of its faces, reshaping said projection to form one or more centering stops and bending said strip into circular shape and uniting its edges.

5. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in forming a wrought metal strip so as to provide an intermediate longitudinally disposed rib portion and reshaping said rib to form one or more centering stops and bending the strip into circular shape and uniting its edges.

6. A method of forming middle rings for stops and bending said strip into circular.

shape and uniting its meeting edges.

7. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in formingfrom a strip of wrought metal stock a ring section having an intermediate extended lug portion and reshaping said lug to form a centering stop.

8. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in forming on a strip of wrought metal stock an intermediate extended lug portion and reshaping said lug portion to form a centering stop and bending said strip into circular shape and uniting its meeting edges.

9. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a ring body having a lug portion and so recessing or scoring said lug as to render it frangible.

10. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a ring body having a projecting r1b like portion and reforming the rib portion 1n such manner as to provide one or more internal centering stops scored or recessed for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a ring body having a projecting portion and partially cutting away sa1d portion and recessing it to form one or more internal frangible centering stops.

i 12. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a ring body having a projecting rib like portion, reforming the rib portion in such manner as to provide one or more integral centering stops and undercutting said stops to render same frangible.

13. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a strip of stock having a projecting rib like portion, reshaping said rib portion to form one or more stops recessed or scored to render same frangible and bending 1 said strip into circular shape and uniting its into circular shape and uniting its meeting edges. 1

15. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in forming a wrought metal strip so as to provide a longitudinally disposed rib portion and reshaping said rib'to form one or morefrangible centering stops bending the strip into circular shape and uniting its meeting edges.

16. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in forming A from a strip of Wrought metal stock a ring section having an extended lug portion on its inner face and reshaping said lug to form an easily frangible centering stop.

17. method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in forming on a strip of wrought metal stock an extended lug portion and reshaping said lug to form an easily frangible centering stop and bending said strip into circular shape. anduniting its meeting edges.

18. A method of'forming. middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a ring body having a projecting rib like portion and reforming the rib portion in such manner as to provide one or more internal centering: stops and reshaping the ring'toprovide packing engaging faces.

19. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a strip of stock having a projecting rib like portion and reshaping said rib portion to form one or more centering stops and so shaping the strip as to provide a ringihaving packing engaging faces at the ends J" V i '20. A method of forming middle rings thereof.

for pipe couplers, which consists in provid- 7 ing a strip of stock having a' projecting rib like portion and reshaping said rib portion to form one or more centering stops and bending sa1d strlp into clrcular shape and reforming said shape to provide at the ends;

thereof packing engaging faces.

21; A method of forming middle rings] tion to form one or more centering'stops,

and so shaping the strip as to provide a ring having annular chambers adapted to receive coupler packing.

2. A method of forming middle rings for pipe couplers, which consists in providing a ring body having a projecting rib like] portion and reforming, the rib portion in such manner as to provide one or more easily frangible internal centering stops and reshaping the ring to provide packing engaging faces.

23. A method of forming, middle rings for pipe couplers, which consistsin providing a strip of stock having a projecting rib like portion and reshaping said rib portion to form one or more centering stops recessed to render them franglble and so shaping thestrip as to provide a ring hav ing at'the ends thereof packing engaging faces. v

24. A method of forming middle rings In testimony whereof We have hereunto for pipe couplers, which consists in providset our hands.

ing a strip of stock having a projecting rib like portion and cutting away said rib portion to form one or more easily frangible centering stops and bending said strip into Witnesses:

circinlar shape and forming annular re- M. A. KELLER cesses adapted to'receive packing rings. S E B. FRITZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents Washington, 1L9. 

